Defensive duo say partnership is building

Defensive duo Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof say their central defensive partnership is continuing to build positively and they are thoroughly enjoying learning from each other.

The pair have formed an excellent link-up this term at the heart of the Reds’ backline - indeed they have kept seven clean sheets in their last nine games - and they sat down for an exclusive pitchside chat with us after another intense session on the training pitch in Spain during this week’s warm weather training camp.

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Watch Victor and Harry discuss their combination at the back.

Both have been pleased with a number of aspects of their work together as they shown great signs of forming a solid long-term understanding, and the pair insist this will continue to grow and improve.

“It’s been brilliant [playing with Victor],” Harry told us. “We’ve had a good season up to now together. When you form partnerships, it takes time. I’m learning his game and he’s learning mine and I think we’re getting better.

“We’re keeping a lot more clean sheets than we were at the start of season and we’ve never really been a team which has conceded a lot of chances. We’ve been poor from set-plays with our defending and we’ve had a couple of great goals scored against us from outside the box, but we haven’t really been having games where David [De Gea] has had to make five or six saves, apart from maybe the Carabao Cup second leg against [Manchester] City, when David was brilliant.

“It’s a partnership that’s building and I think we’ll get better and better, and start keeping more clean sheets like we have been doing recently.”

Victor agreed, adding: “It’s great to play with Harry. He’s a fantastic player and it’s great to partner with him. We want to win more games and I think, for every game we play together, we become better and better. Hopefully, we can keep improving and help the team get more clean sheets and get more results.”

Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are on track to continue keeping things tight at the back for United.

During our exclusive chat, Maguire and Lindelof also spoke of the importance of the training week as the Reds prepare for the final push in the 2019/20 season.

“It’s obviously nice weather, which is always a bonus when you come somewhere like here,” said Harry. “It’s nice to get together and do some work on the training pitch and do some team-bonding. There have been so many games recently and it’s been very rare where we’ve had a week where we don’t have a game.

“Even in the FA Cup, we found ourselves going to a replay so it’s good to get a week/10 days’ worth of training in.”

Maguire smacks one off the post in SpainVideo

Victor talked of the benefits of mentally switching off for a few days during a break, as the players were able to have some rest and relaxation on holiday, before flying to Spain.

“It was nice to get away last week to relax for a little bit and recover and rest your body and mind as well,” he added. “It feels great to be back and be here in Marbella, and I’m very happy to be back as I think all the guys are too.”

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